Then it's off to the national title game in Pasadena, Calif., where Bud Foster will be chillin' with Johnny Depp, Tyrod Taylor chatting with Tyra Banks, and the Daily Press sports staff dining at Spago.

Go ahead and scoff.

Remind us that Tech is untested at linebacker and kicker, unproven at receiver and along the offensive line. Point out that the Hokies dropped four games a year ago and were fortunate to prevail at North Carolina and, believe it or not, at home against Duke.

Also cite a non-conference schedule that includes Nebraska, East Carolina and the Sept. 5 opener in Atlanta against Saban's Alabama Crimson Tide. It's arguably the nation's most difficult.

None of this dissuades true believers. We see a defense — end Jason Worilds is poised to emerge as a fierce pass rusher — that should be its typically stingy self and an offense brimming with playmakers at running back, receiver, quarterback and tight end.

Special teams? Beamer always seems to unearth a former walk-on kicker who's money from 45 yards and in.

The most recent Hokies hosannas rang from this week's ACC preseason shindig.

We confess to joining the majority that picked the Hokies to win the league, but the margin was startling. Of the 87 voters, 69 tabbed Tech. Florida State and Georgia Tech were next with seven each.

Ahmadinejad would kill for those numbers. (Some say he does.)

"You're going by history when you pick them," Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said of the Hokies.

Bowden is familiar with the role. His Seminoles led the ACC preseason poll 14 consecutive years from 1992-2005, a span in which they won or shared 12 titles.

But after Virginia Tech arrived in 2004, the balance of power shifted north. The Hokies ruled the conference during their first season and have since appeared in three of the league's four championship games.

Virginia Tech closed last season with four consecutive victories. The Hokies defeated Boston College for the ACC title, and their Orange Bowl conquest of Cincinnati ended the conference's nine-year Bowl Championship Series losing streak.